Nature Centers, Conservatories, Bogs Prairies & Fens

Many areas in the State of Michigan have been designated as Nature Centers, Fens, Bogs and Prairies.  Conservationists and Master Gardeners are working to preserve these important areas for our state eco-system.  

Fens: A Fen can be a wetland, grassy marsh, forested swamps or peat bogs.  Along with bogs, fens are a type of mire.  They are usually fed by mineral rich ground or surface water.  They contain grasses and sedges.  They also contain many carnivorous plants.  They may be found along lakes and rivers. 

Bogs: Bogs are different from Fens as they are usually acidic.  Bogs are also considered wetlands. 

For further information about Bogs and Fens check out Private Land Partnerships, Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

Prairies: Michigan has many areas designated as Prairie sites.  These areas are made up of herbaceous plants, mainly grasses and few to no trees. The origin of the word prairie comes from the French word for meadow. For further information about Prairies in Michigan check out Prairies, where?, Michigan State University and The Big Prairie Desert Story.

Informational websites regarding Nature Trails, Fens and Bogs:  

MichiganTrailMaps.com: This website contains a complete list of hiking trails and includes maps of each area.  It also provides a blog and newsletter written by Jim DuFresne.
Land Conservancy of West Michigan
State of Michigan - Bogs and Fens
Michigan State University Extension offers the following informational websites: Michigan Natural Features Inventory - Prairie Fen and Exploring the Prairie Fen Wetlands of Michigan
Beavers Disrupt Fen - Hannah Ettema - Michigan Nature Association
Prairie Fen preserved in an Urban Environment - Tyler Bassett, Kalamazoo Nature Center

Nature Centers, Conservatories, Fens and Bogs in the State of Michigan

For your convenience, the list is arranged by the area of the state where they are located: Southeast Michigan, Lansing/Central Michigan, West Michigan, Flint, Tri-Cities and The Thumb, Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. Just click on the name of the garden and be connected to their website.

Southeast Michigan
Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center, Shelby Township, MI (586) 323-2478
Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve - Rochester, MI
Drayton Plains Nature Center - Waterford, MI
Eddy Discovery Center - Chelsea, MI
Farmington Hills Nature Center - Farmington Hills, MI
Hawk Woods Nature Center - Auburn Hills, MI
Howell Conference and Nature Center - Howell, MI
Hudson Mills Metropark - Ann Arbor, MI
Indian Springs Metropark - White Lake, MI
Ives Road Fen Preserve - Tecumseh, MI
E. L. Johnson Nature Center - Bloomfield Hills, Oakland
Kensington Park Nature Center - Milford, MI
Lake St. Clair Metropark - Harrison Township, MI
Leslie Science & Nature Center - Ann Arbor, MI
Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center - Troy, MI
Marshlands Museum and Nature Center - Brownstown, MI
Nankin Mills Nature Center - Westland, MI
Nichols Arboretum - Ann Arbor, MI
Oakwoods Park Nature Center - Belleville, MI
Pine River Nature Center - Goodells, MI
Red Oaks Nature Center - Madison Heights, MI
Seven Ponds Nature Center - Dryden, MI
Sterling Heights Nature Center - Sterling Heights, MI
Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center - Shelby, MI
Stubnitz Environmental Education Center - Adrian, MI
Thurston Nature Center - Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan - Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center - Dearborn, MI
Wint Nature Center - Clarkston, MI

Lansing/Central Michigan
Brooks Nature Area - Marshall, MI
Dahlem Environmental Education Center, Jackson, MI
DeVries Nature Conservancy - Owosso, MI
Fenner Nature Center - Lansing, MI
Harris Nature Center - Okemos, MI
Lefglen’s Prairie Fen - Wolf Lake Rd. Jackson County, MI
Nature Discovery - Williamston, MI
Woldumar Nature Center - Lansing,

West Michigan
Anderson Woods Nature Preserve - Muskegon, MI
Blandford Nature Center - Grand Rapids, MI
Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve - Grand Rapids, MI
Degraaf Nature Center - Holland, MI
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve - Niles, MI
Fred Meijer Heartland Trail - West MI area
Hoffmaster State Park - Muskegon, MI
Howard Christensen Nature Center, Kent City, MI
Kalamazoo Nature Center - Kalamazoo, MI
Kellogg Experimental Forest - Augusta MI
Love Creek Nature Center - Berrien Center, MI
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve - Grand Rapids, MI
Mass Family Nature Preserve - Rockford, MI
Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing Park - West Olive, MI
Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway - Holland, MI
Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve - Paw Paw, MI
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute - Hastings, MI
Sarett Nature Center - Benton Harbor, MI
Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve - Rockford, MI
Tallmadge Woods - Saugatuck, MI
Wittenbach/Wege Environmental Center - Lowell, MI

Flint, Tri-Cities and The Thumb
Bay City Recreation Area - Bay City, MI
Chippewa Nature Center - Midland, MI
For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum - Burton, MI
Hartley Outdoor Education Center - St. Charles, MI

Northern Lower Peninsula
Boardman River Nature Center - Traverse City, MI
Cadillac Heritage Nature Study Area (Mitchell SP) - Cadillac, MI
Kettunen Center - Tustin, MI
Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve - Roscommon, MI
Raven Hill Discovery Center - East Jordan, MI
Thompsons Harbor State Park Coastal Fen - A long the shores of Lake Huron
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve - Harbor Springs, MI
Waldeck Island - Cadillac, MI

Upper Peninsula
Carney Fen - Carney, MI
MosseWood Nature Center - Marquette, MI
Whitefish Point Bird Observatory - Paradise, MI

Michigan Nature Association website This website is very informative with a great map so you can find locations near you.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources